# Cathodo- and radioluminescence of Tm$^{3+}$:YAG and Nd$^{3+}$:YAG in an extended wavelength range

## TL;DR

This study investigates the cathodo- and radioluminescence of Nd:YAG and Tm:YAG crystals across an extended wavelength range up to 5 micrometers, revealing high infrared light yields useful for low-energy event detection.

## Contribution

It provides new measurements of infrared luminescence in Nd:YAG and Tm:YAG crystals, demonstrating their potential for radiation detection in the infrared spectrum.

## Key findings

- Visible light yield ~10^4 photons/MeV
- Infrared light yield ~5×10^4 photons/MeV
- Ionizing radiation efficiently populates low-lying levels

## Abstract

We have studied the cathodo- and radioluminescence of Nd:YAG and of Tm:YAG single crystals in an extended wavelength range up to $\approx 5\,\mu$m in view of developing a new kind of detector for low-energy, low-rate energy deposition events. Whereas the light yield in the visible range is as large as $\approx 10^{4}\,$photons/MeV, in good agreement with literature results, in the infrared range we have found a light yield $\approx 5\times 10^{4}\,$photons/MeV, thereby proving that ionizing radiation is particularly efficient in populating the low lying levels of rare earth doped crystals.